F1 2016 review: Brazil saves Sauber's season

Tech highlights

By Giorgio Piola and Matt Somerfield

Sauber's season turned around with the news that it would be receiving investment, and whilst Longbow Finance didn't officially take over until just after the European GP, the wheels had already been set in motion to build parts for the previously undeveloped C35.

At the British GP the first of these updates came through, with a new rear wing mounted on the car that featured similar detached rear wing endplate louvres to the ones pioneered by Toro Rosso (blue arrow) and the gradient slots we've seen used by several teams over the last few years (red arrow).

However, more importantly, at the start of the season the team had been forced to use a Y-shaped pillar rather than just a single centreline one, as like the rest of the Ferrari-powered teams, it looked to exploit a loophole that allowed the pillar to intersect with the exhaust.

The problem for Sauber is that it couldn't afford to spend resources on the redesign of a new mainplane and top flap that could take advantage of the pillar's connection point, leaving it with two pillars under the wing (inset).

Sauber C35 rear wing, captioned

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Season ratings

Jon Noble - 5

Following a year when survival was the main achievement for the team, its fairytale point-scoring finish in Brazil has lifted hopes that better times are just around the corner.

A complete lack of finances at the start of the campaign left the Hinwil-based operation on the brink, and its future was in serious doubt until investors Longbow Finance came onboard. The green light for developments, staff recruitment and the racing team means it ends 2016 much stronger than it started it.

Oleg Karpov – 4

Felipe Nasr's points in Brazil weren't just luck as the team did take a decent step forward after the summer break. New investors allowed Sauber to start to unlock its potential, which is still big as Sauber has great facilities in Hinwil.

Glenn Freeman – 3

Were it not for Felipe Nasr saving its bacon in the rain in Brazil, Sauber would have suffered the ignominy of failing to score a point in 2016, and finishing outside of the top 10 in the constructors’ standings.

The team was fighting to stay alive in the first half of the year until it got new investment, so hopefully it has hit rock bottom and is now rebounding back in the right direction.

Kate Walker - 5

The Swiss racers started 2016 on the back foot, with public cash-flow issues that led Sauber to delay the introduction of the car until the second pre-season test.

To all intents and purposes it was a matter of hanging on until ongoing deals in the background were completed, and it was during the British Grand Prix that Sauber announced they had secured an investor in the form of Longbow Finance.

Funds and resources were devoted to improving the team’s chances in 2017, but a late-season hero drive from Felipe Nasr at his home race saw the Hinwil racers secure 10th in the constructors’ standings, a result that further improves their financial footing.

Pablo Elizalde – 5

Plagued by financial problems, Sauber was destined to be at the back of the field, and that was the case. Once it changed ownership, it finally started introducing some upgrades that improved its performance slightly.

The Brazilian GP result, and the financial bonus that comes with is, is the only really good story of the year for the team, however.

Guillaume Navarro – 4

Sauber now has new owners, which provides Marcus Ericsson with a very bright future in a team now managed by his partners.

However, Felipe Nasr is the one who saved the day for Sauber in 2016, scoring providential points that helped the team out of a humiliating bottom-of-the-class spot.

All year long, Monisha Kaltenborn played the role of a dissident against powerful teams in the Strategy Group, warning them about the small teams' financial hardships.

Erwin Jaeggi - 5

It was another year of survival for Sauber and this time round the financial troubles were even more visible on track.

After Manor scored a point in Austria, the Hinwil outfit was destined to finish 11th in the championship, which would have meant that the team would also miss out on the much needed cash that comes with a place amongst the first 10.

Sauber was in desperate need for a chaotic race and, luckily for them, the Brazilian Grand Prix turned out to be an action-packed one. Felipe Nasr rose to the occasion by finishing ninth, although this might not be enough to keep his seat. With a new investor on board, things should be better next season.

Jacobo Vega - 3

After a solid 2015, Sauber was another of the teams underperforming this year. I understand that its financial situation is not easy but I was expecting more from them. It saved the season thanks to Nasr in Brazil but it was close to finishing the year without points, something really bad for a team like Sauber.